Habib Koite

An internationally renowned Malian artist and guitarist, Habib Koité skillfully combines the tradition of griots with an astounding instrumental virtuosity.

Habib has a unique and very personal approach to guitar playing. His music sounds closer to blues or flamenco and his way of singing is reserved and intimate, with variations in rhythmic cadence and melodies.

After the huge success of his album with the American bluesman Eric Bibb, the show from his last album Soô has traveled the planet. He was very often invited to play with artists such as Terry Riley and Damon Albarn (Blur, Gorillaz).

While many African performers have chosen to try to conquer Europe and North America by incorporating western sounds into their music and others are striving to perpetuate traditional music in a much more rigorous way, Habib Koité has adopted his own highly individual style which is both infused with the traditions of his country and very much in tune with his times.

During a career which has produced a total of three albums and countless concerts across the world, Habib Koité has been able to develop his own very distinctive approach to guitar playing. You can also find in his music, samples of the rich range of traditional Mali instruments such as the balafon, tamani or n’goni in his music.

Musical arrangements that set off his warmhearted vocals to perfection. But it is above all on stage that this virtuoso guitar, who descends from a long line of griots, is revealed.